Submit a Review for 1st Place at The Elephant
15 Hampton Street, London, SE17 3AN
View full details of 1st Place at The ElephantLatest Reviews for 1st Place at The Elephant
09 March 2026
We couldn't be happier with the care our baby receives in the baby room at this nursery. From the very beginning, the staff have been incredibly warm, attentive, and nurturing, which made settling in so much easier for both our little one and us as parents.
The baby room is always clean, calm, and
thoughtfully set up with age-appropriate toys and activities that support development. We love how the team plans sensory play, music time, and messy play activities that encourage curiosity and learning, even at such a young age.
What truly stands out is how caring and responsive the staff are. They take the time to understand each baby's individual routine, preferences, and needs. We receive regular updates about naps, feeds, and activities throughout the day, which gives us real peace of mind. we love the activities picture sent at the end of the day . she really enjoys going to nursery and play with her friends.
22 September 2025
Our son joined this nursery about a year and a half ago without speaking any English. Thanks to the warm and caring teachers, by the time he graduated he was able to communicate with confidence and enjoy daily life at the nursery.
He learned important social skills and daily routines, and he made
many friends along the way. We were very happy to see his growth in independence and his ability to connect with others.
The teachers always created a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where our son could feel comfortable and happy. The balance of learning, play, and interaction helped him develop in a positive way.
Now, as he moves on to the next stage of education, he does so with confidence and a positive outlook. We are very grateful to all the staff for their dedication and kindness.
22 September 2025
Both of our sons passed through First Place nurseries - formerly at Lorrimore Square, now at the Elephant - and we were incredibly happy with the care that they both received across the combined five year period. The staff were consistently brilliant - helpful and considerate whenever any issues
arose, organising trips, and the forest school was excellent. Both of the boys miss their friends and carers at First Place and talk about their time there fondly.
19 September 2025
My child was at 1st Place nursery from 8-months old till the start of school. She was consistently well cared for. There was a daily update of what she had done, if she had slept, what she had eaten (or not!), and sometimes a photo of the activity. The formal reports were also helpful. It was lovely
to talk to staff who were as interested in my child's development as I was. As a first time mother, it was wonderful to feel supported through my concerns. My child thrived in this environment. The staff were communicative and helpful even through the big emotional upheaval of moving from one nursery location to another in a very stressful circumstance. We are very grateful to have chanced upon such a great nursery. Our lives were made a lot easier knowing that our child was well cared for while we worked.
27 March 2025
We've been with 1st Place since my daughter-now four-joined the Baby Room at a previous nursery when she was one. When that nursery merged with 1st Place Elephant last year, we chose to move with them, even though it's less convenient for us. That's a real testament to the team, who have always been
exceptionally warm and caring.
Our son joined 1st Place Elephant when he turned one and is thriving. Both kids are very happy there. They're well cared for and always busy with a variety of activities. We really appreciate the regular trips - Forest School sessions, visits to museums, and other days out. And our kids also love spending time in the studio, working on art projects. It's in the same building, but they're always excited to go!
And while it might seem like a small thing, we really value the nursery's use of reusable nappies. I don't know of any others that do, and it must have prevented thousands of disposables from going to landfill. That's no small thing.
24 March 2025
I am very satisfied with the care and education my son receives at 1st place. The staff's friendliness and dedication have created a nurturing environment where my child feels welcomed and valued. Since joining, he has made remarkable progress in his learning and development, a testament to the
team's commitment to individualised growth. Also, The regular and insightful feedback provided keeps me well-informed about his daily experiences and achievements.
14 June 2024
I can't rant enough about how brilliant 1st place is. I am so happy that my daughter comes here, the staff are wonderful and go above and beyond for all the children. It's a magical and nutritional environment for them and I have seen my daughter blossom over the past couple of months of being here.
There is continuous and well-documented feedback about my daughter's progress as well as plenty of pictures of her playing with other children. I always feel very much involved in her progress and development. The management is always present and takes the time to say hello and if we have any concerns we feel comfortable enough to address them. It's a family-orientated nursery and you don't often get this feeling in other settings so we are very pleased. Thank you to everyone for everything.
14 June 2024
Our daughter has been at 1st Place at the Elephant since it opened, having transferred from 1st Place Cambridge House when it closed.
We could not be happier with the nursery, our daughter is well cared for and stimulated. Their child-led approach gives the children agency over the activities and
how they play.
The staff are fantastic, patient, caring, and engaged with the children. Our daughter talks about them and knows them all as individuals as well as the people who look after her during the day.
The relatively small size of the nursery and its central location means they have easy access to transport and central London. They often go on trips to museums or shows and explore the city in small groups on foot too. They also have access to a Forest School which our daughter has loved, especially when she was taught how to safely use a saw to cut wood!
Thank you to all the staff, you do an amazing job!
14 June 2024
I am a mother of a 15-month-old and I cannot speak highly enough of 1st Place. Without a doubt, this nursery deserves a 5-star rating in every aspect.
My son absolutely loves it there, and it warms my heart to see how much he has thrived in the 6 months he's been attending. His language, motor
skills, and social skills have all seen remarkable improvements, which I attribute to the nurturing environment provided by the dedicated staff.
Speaking of the staff, I cannot praise them enough. They are exceptional caregivers who go above and beyond to ensure his well-being and development. Their friendliness, love, and support have played a significant role in his growth and happiness at the nursery.
I wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment for their child. My son and I are grateful for the wonderful experiences and memories he is creating there.
06 June 2024
We have been really happy at 1st Place. Our children have been happy and come home buzzing about their days and all that they've done. The staff are very approachable and engaging and are interested in the children, their welfare, happiness, and development.
The nursery works hard to enrich the
days beyond the time at nursery going to museums, theatres, parks, forest school, cultural visits, and many more.
The children eat well and get good balanced meals and are taught to be independent and do more for themselves.
We've been really happy and have recommended the nursery to friends who've also moved their children there.
07 December 2023
The majority of the nursery staff that have contact with your child are great. My son has a lovely time with the staff he plays with. Unfortunately, the management and the handling of complaints are incredibly concerning. On that basis, I would not recommend the nursery if you care about your
child’s overall welfare and bodily autonomy and respect.
08 May 2022
Our daughter has been at the nursery since she was a baby, and is currently in the pre-school room. We have been overjoyed at the level of care and compassion she has received through each level of the nursery. The food menus are diverse, the rooms are set-out with lots of different areas such as a
reading corner, a building area and an I.C.T area. It's organised in a very thoughtful way, and the rooms are wonderfully light and welcoming. The outside play areas are kept well. There is very little staff turnover as it's a family-run business and we feel like we know the staff well, and they are all wonderfully kind and caring. We're very happy with her progress at the nursery, they clearly take the curriculum very seriously and we see improvements all the time.
16 November 2015
My daughter has been going to the Elephant and Castle Nursery for 2 years. She just turned three and I only have good things to say. The staff are great, they care for the children and teach them well. Everybody is helpful and flexible and have made our family life so much easier.
My daughter is
happy to go there, and I am happy she is in good hands.
I cannot recommend this nursery enough.
Latest Reviews for 1st Place at The Elephant
09 March 2026
We couldn't be happier with the care our baby receives in the baby room at this nursery. From the very beginning, the staff have been incredibly warm, attentive, and nurturing, which made settling in so much easier for both our little one and us as parents.
The baby room is always clean, calm, and
thoughtfully set up with age-appropriate toys and activities that support development. We love how the team plans sensory play, music time, and messy play activities that encourage curiosity and learning, even at such a young age.
What truly stands out is how caring and responsive the staff are. They take the time to understand each baby's individual routine, preferences, and needs. We receive regular updates about naps, feeds, and activities throughout the day, which gives us real peace of mind. we love the activities picture sent at the end of the day . she really enjoys going to nursery and play with her friends.
22 September 2025
Our son joined this nursery about a year and a half ago without speaking any English. Thanks to the warm and caring teachers, by the time he graduated he was able to communicate with confidence and enjoy daily life at the nursery.
He learned important social skills and daily routines, and he made
many friends along the way. We were very happy to see his growth in independence and his ability to connect with others.
The teachers always created a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where our son could feel comfortable and happy. The balance of learning, play, and interaction helped him develop in a positive way.
Now, as he moves on to the next stage of education, he does so with confidence and a positive outlook. We are very grateful to all the staff for their dedication and kindness.
22 September 2025
Both of our sons passed through First Place nurseries - formerly at Lorrimore Square, now at the Elephant - and we were incredibly happy with the care that they both received across the combined five year period. The staff were consistently brilliant - helpful and considerate whenever any issues
arose, organising trips, and the forest school was excellent. Both of the boys miss their friends and carers at First Place and talk about their time there fondly.
19 September 2025
My child was at 1st Place nursery from 8-months old till the start of school. She was consistently well cared for. There was a daily update of what she had done, if she had slept, what she had eaten (or not!), and sometimes a photo of the activity. The formal reports were also helpful. It was lovely
to talk to staff who were as interested in my child's development as I was. As a first time mother, it was wonderful to feel supported through my concerns. My child thrived in this environment. The staff were communicative and helpful even through the big emotional upheaval of moving from one nursery location to another in a very stressful circumstance. We are very grateful to have chanced upon such a great nursery. Our lives were made a lot easier knowing that our child was well cared for while we worked.
27 March 2025
We've been with 1st Place since my daughter-now four-joined the Baby Room at a previous nursery when she was one. When that nursery merged with 1st Place Elephant last year, we chose to move with them, even though it's less convenient for us. That's a real testament to the team, who have always been
exceptionally warm and caring.
Our son joined 1st Place Elephant when he turned one and is thriving. Both kids are very happy there. They're well cared for and always busy with a variety of activities. We really appreciate the regular trips - Forest School sessions, visits to museums, and other days out. And our kids also love spending time in the studio, working on art projects. It's in the same building, but they're always excited to go!
And while it might seem like a small thing, we really value the nursery's use of reusable nappies. I don't know of any others that do, and it must have prevented thousands of disposables from going to landfill. That's no small thing.
24 March 2025
I am very satisfied with the care and education my son receives at 1st place. The staff's friendliness and dedication have created a nurturing environment where my child feels welcomed and valued. Since joining, he has made remarkable progress in his learning and development, a testament to the
team's commitment to individualised growth. Also, The regular and insightful feedback provided keeps me well-informed about his daily experiences and achievements.
14 June 2024
I can't rant enough about how brilliant 1st place is. I am so happy that my daughter comes here, the staff are wonderful and go above and beyond for all the children. It's a magical and nutritional environment for them and I have seen my daughter blossom over the past couple of months of being here.
There is continuous and well-documented feedback about my daughter's progress as well as plenty of pictures of her playing with other children. I always feel very much involved in her progress and development. The management is always present and takes the time to say hello and if we have any concerns we feel comfortable enough to address them. It's a family-orientated nursery and you don't often get this feeling in other settings so we are very pleased. Thank you to everyone for everything.
14 June 2024
Our daughter has been at 1st Place at the Elephant since it opened, having transferred from 1st Place Cambridge House when it closed.
We could not be happier with the nursery, our daughter is well cared for and stimulated. Their child-led approach gives the children agency over the activities and
how they play.
The staff are fantastic, patient, caring, and engaged with the children. Our daughter talks about them and knows them all as individuals as well as the people who look after her during the day.
The relatively small size of the nursery and its central location means they have easy access to transport and central London. They often go on trips to museums or shows and explore the city in small groups on foot too. They also have access to a Forest School which our daughter has loved, especially when she was taught how to safely use a saw to cut wood!
Thank you to all the staff, you do an amazing job!
14 June 2024
I am a mother of a 15-month-old and I cannot speak highly enough of 1st Place. Without a doubt, this nursery deserves a 5-star rating in every aspect.
My son absolutely loves it there, and it warms my heart to see how much he has thrived in the 6 months he's been attending. His language, motor
skills, and social skills have all seen remarkable improvements, which I attribute to the nurturing environment provided by the dedicated staff.
Speaking of the staff, I cannot praise them enough. They are exceptional caregivers who go above and beyond to ensure his well-being and development. Their friendliness, love, and support have played a significant role in his growth and happiness at the nursery.
I wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment for their child. My son and I are grateful for the wonderful experiences and memories he is creating there.
06 June 2024
We have been really happy at 1st Place. Our children have been happy and come home buzzing about their days and all that they've done. The staff are very approachable and engaging and are interested in the children, their welfare, happiness, and development.
The nursery works hard to enrich the
days beyond the time at nursery going to museums, theatres, parks, forest school, cultural visits, and many more.
The children eat well and get good balanced meals and are taught to be independent and do more for themselves.
We've been really happy and have recommended the nursery to friends who've also moved their children there.
07 December 2023
The majority of the nursery staff that have contact with your child are great. My son has a lovely time with the staff he plays with. Unfortunately, the management and the handling of complaints are incredibly concerning. On that basis, I would not recommend the nursery if you care about your
child’s overall welfare and bodily autonomy and respect.
08 May 2022
Our daughter has been at the nursery since she was a baby, and is currently in the pre-school room. We have been overjoyed at the level of care and compassion she has received through each level of the nursery. The food menus are diverse, the rooms are set-out with lots of different areas such as a
reading corner, a building area and an I.C.T area. It's organised in a very thoughtful way, and the rooms are wonderfully light and welcoming. The outside play areas are kept well. There is very little staff turnover as it's a family-run business and we feel like we know the staff well, and they are all wonderfully kind and caring. We're very happy with her progress at the nursery, they clearly take the curriculum very seriously and we see improvements all the time.
16 November 2015
My daughter has been going to the Elephant and Castle Nursery for 2 years. She just turned three and I only have good things to say. The staff are great, they care for the children and teach them well. Everybody is helpful and flexible and have made our family life so much easier.
My daughter is
happy to go there, and I am happy she is in good hands.
I cannot recommend this nursery enough.